Anchorage, Alaska - The Alaska Department of Health and Social
Services, Division of Public Health, published results from two
Youth Risk Behavior Surveys Thursday.

In spring 2009, the departmentsurveyed 1,373 students from 43 high schools that were
scientifically selected to represent all public high schools
(excluding boarding schools, alternative schools, and correctional
facilities) in Alaska, said Patricia Owen, state coordinator
for the survey.

"We're excited to see
a continuing reduction in smoking among young people," said
Dr. Ward Hurlburt, Alaska's Chief Medical Officer and director
of Public Health, "but these surveys make it clear that
we've got a lot of work to do. Not even one out of five Alaska
high school students eats the recommended daily servings of fruits
and vegetables, and fewer than half of our young people get enough
daily exercise. These results not only provide a window to the
physical and behavioral health of Alaska's young people, but
also serve as a predictor of future health issues for our state."

The survey asked students to
report certain risky behaviors. The following findings reflect
responses from high school students attending traditional high
schools:

Alcohol and drug use:

33.2 percent of high school
students had consumed alcohol within the past 30 days;

Compared to 39.7 percent in
2007; 38.7 percent in 2003 and 47.5 percent in 1995.

22.7 percent of high school
students reported using marijuana in the past 30 days;

Compared to 20.5 percent in
2007; 23.9 percent in 2003 and 28.7 percent in 1995;

24.8 percent of students were
offered, sold or given an illegal drug by someone on school property
during the past 12 months;

Compared to 25.1 percent in
2007; 28.4 percent in 2003 and 34.1 percent in 1995.

Violence and suicide:

27.8 percent of high school
students had been in a physical fight during the past year;

Compared to 29.2 percent in
2007; 27.1 percent in 2003 and 35.8 percent in 1995;

13.3 percent had been physically
hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend in the past year;

Compared to 12.4 percent in
2007; 10.8 percent in 2003 (1995 numbers were not available);

8.5 percent reported attempting
suicide in the past 12 months;

Compared to 10.7 percent in
2007; 8.1 percent in 2003 and 9.4 percent in 1995

20.7 percent reported having
been bullied on school property in the past 12 months.

This is the first year the
survey asked this question.

Other behaviors that increase
the risk of health problems:

43.5 percent of high school
students have had sexual intercourse;

Compared to 45.1 percent in
2007; 39.6 percent in 2003 and 47.2 percent in 1995;

15.7 percent of high school
students smoked tobacco in the past 30 days;

Compared to 17.8 percent in
2007; 19.2 percent in 2003 and 36.5 percent in 1995;

26.2 percent were overweight
or obese;

Compared to 27.3 percent in
2007; 25.4 percent in 2003 (1995 numbers were not available).

The findings from alternative
high schools show that for almost every measure, these students
are at significantly higher risk than their peers at traditional
schools:

Alcohol and drug use:

57 percent of alternative
students vs. 33.2 percent of traditional students had consumed
alcohol within the past 30 days;

50.5 percent of alternative
students vs. 22.7 percent of traditional students reported using
marijuana in the past 30 days;

32.4 percent of alternative
students vs. 24.8 percent of traditional students were offered,
sold or given an illegal drug by someone on school property during
the past 12 months;

48.9 percent of alternative
students vs. 20.9 percent of traditional students had used un-prescribed
drugs one or more times during their life.

Violence and suicide:

45.7 percent of alternative
students vs. 27.8 percent of traditional students had been in
a physical fight during the past year;

21.3 percent of alternative
students vs. 13.3 percent of traditional students had been physically
hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend in the past year;

11.3 percent of alternative
students vs. 8.5 percent of traditional students reported attempting
suicide in the past 12 months.

Other behaviors that increase
the risk of health problems:

82.2 percent of alternative
students vs. 43.5 percent of traditional students have had sexual
intercourse;

58 percent of alternative
students vs. 15.7 percent of traditional students smoked in the
past 30 days;

37.2 percent of alternative
students vs. 26.2 percent of traditional students were overweight
or obese.

Alternative high school students
were also more likely than traditional high school students to
have engaged in risk taking behavior before the age of 13.

While the standard YRBS captures
excellent data on the majority of students, it intentionally
has not included schools that serve high-risk students. Alaska
decided it was essential to understand the condition and needs
of these students at alternative schools. The state's federal
Safe and Drug-Free Schools Grant and its cooperative agreement
with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention require
programs that target Alaska's highest-risk student populations.

Alternative schools were first
surveyed nationally in 1998. The results revealed disproportionate
levels of risk behaviors in this student population. No additional
national surveys have been conducted.

In 2007, the Anchorage School
District completed a survey of its alternative schools, and the
results demonstrated significant differences in risk-taking behaviors
when compared to traditional high school populations. Examination
of these data led to the creation of the Alaska Department of
Education and Early Development's Alternative Schools Healthy
Students Initiative. Information about the initiative is available
at http://www.eed.state.ak.us/tls/alt/.

The Alaska Education Plan for
public schools, created in 2008 by several hundred Alaskans from
all walks of life, also strongly emphasizes student health and
safety. To achieve the goal of healthy students in safe schools,
it is important to establish baseline data and to monitor progress
through credible, gold-standard tools such as the YRBS.

"One of the main goals
of the Alaska Education Plan is that students will have access
to safe schools, where they develop healthy and safe practices
for life," said Alaska Department of Education Commissioner
Larry LeDoux. "Students need to feel safe socially, physically
and emotionally if they are to learn at school. The Youth Risk
Behavior Survey indicates that we have a long way to go. Every
one of the survey's statistics was reported by real students
with real problems - problems that we must address if we are
to reach our goal."

The YRBS is part of a national
surveillance system developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention to assess and address health risks among
high school students. The survey is conducted in Alaska every
other year through the cooperation of the state Department of
Health and Social Services, the Department of Education and Early
Development and public high schools statewide.